Swim fans who frequent the Towpath Trail YMCA of Western Stark County soon will have a new spot to cool off and get fit.

The Towpath Trail Y is adding a four-lane, 75-foot-long swimming pool to its facility. Construction on the addition officially begins today with a ceremonial groundbreaking, according to Beth Alban, director of the Navarre YMCA.

“It’s been complete excitement and energy here,” said Alban about the mood in the YMCA branch about the pool. “This project has been a long time coming, about three years.”

The project should be finished by mid-December, just in time for the YMCA’s busy season, which starts after New Year’s Day, Alban said.

A 6,200-square-foot addition to the Y also will include a new child care room. Cost for the swimming pool and child care unit total about $1 million, Alban said.

Jeffrey Carr Construction, of Navarre, is the contractor for the project.

Money for the project comes mainly through fundraisers and individual donations, Alban noted. However, the YMCA might need to seek some remaining money via a bank loan.

“The project was important enough to move forward with at this time,” she said.

The new swimming pool will be competition size but somewhat smaller than the Massillon Family YMCA, a sister facility of the Towpath branch, Alban said. Massillon’s pool has a maximum depth of 12 feet, while the Towpath pool will reach 6 feet deep.

The pool will offer YMCA members and visitors the opportunity to lap swim, take swimming lessons and participate in water exercises and aerobics. In addition, it will offer swimming and exercise classes to senior citizens and provide rehabilitation instruction.

Alban said the addition to the childcare center will allow the Towpath branch to expand its children’s preschool programs and add youth discovery classes to its curriculum.

“A lot of our classrooms were closed because of limited space,” Alban said. “We’ve got some growing pains but are moving ahead.”

Project starts

WHAT Groundbreaking ceremony at Towpath Trail YMCA of Western Stark County